"The minutes, seen by journalists before they were pulled, appear unremarkable and include a note that a change in rules could mean costs for the then Prince Andrew as a UK trade envoy would be funded by the Royal Travel Office rather than the former Department of Trade and Industry adding 90,000 to its budget. Visits discussed were to China, Russia, south-east Asia and Spain."
"The retention of the minutes underlines the way that files relating to the royal family are routinely withheld from release under the Public Records Act. Graham Smith, the chief executive of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, said there should be no royal exemption at all. The most likely reason for this attempt to stop disclosure is pressure from the palace. The royals have sought to keep everything under wraps when it comes to Andrew, not to protect him but to protect themselves."
"Files released to the National Archives include documents relating to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and a grovelling apology from John Major's office after an official birthday telegram to the Queen Mother was addressed in an improper manner. But the documents, which are made available to media in advance under embargo, had also included No 10 minutes from 2004 and 2005 on royal visits. These were subsequently withdrawn, the Cabinet Office blaming an administrative error as they had never been intended for release."
Documents released to the National Archives included papers on Diana's death, a John Major apology over a misaddressed telegram, and minutes on royal visits that were later withdrawn. The withdrawn No 10 minutes noted a rule change that could shift Prince Andrew's UK trade envoy travel costs to the Royal Travel Office, adding £90,000 to its budget, and referenced visits to China, Russia, south-east Asia and Spain. The retention of the minutes highlights routine withholding of royal-related files under the Public Records Act. Critics, including Republic's chief executive, say royal exemption enables concealment and allege palace pressure to prevent disclosure.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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